Gas bomb



Nov. 16, 1948. J. H. Amum/101mb, JR

GAS BOMB` Filed Jan. 28, 1944 OI/Vlv RM I E m -.N NMI?. wA,/.. NH ls Patented Nov. 16, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT Q'FFIC E GAS BOMB.'

J ohnHays Hammond, Jrl, (.rloucester,` Mass.

Application Janualtrj7 28, 1944, Serial No. 520,053

` comme (C1. 10e-6) 1L n This invention relates' to gas bornbszand` more particularly to a gas bomb with a timecontrolled mechanism.

The invention provides means for controlling the emission of gas from a bomb sothat the emission of the gaswill start at a predetermined timev after thebomb has strucll its target.

The invention alsof provides-means'for making' the detonating-mechanism of the bomb inactive forga predeterminedtime'after-the bomb has been released.

The invention further provides means for automatically yexploding the bomb if it is disturbed in theslightest from thepos'ition in `which it came` to rest after 'hittingthe target.

The invention also provides means for explodingthe bomb automatically at the end` of a predetermined time, which is preferably several days.

The invention also consists incertain new-and original featuresV of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forthand claimed.

Althoughthe novel features which arebelieved tov be characteristic of this-invention will be` particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, theinvention itself; as` to its objectsv and advantages; the mode ofits` operationand the manner of; its organization maybeV better under-v stood` by referring to` the following' description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming'a part thereof, in which Figure lis a section thru thebomb` showing the control mechanisms ;4 and Figure 2 is'a planview of the sensitive-mechani'sm fordetonating the bomloif disturbed.-

Like reference characters denote Vlike parts 'in the several g-ures of the drawing.

In the following` descriptionA parts will be identied by specific names for conveniencalbut they' areintendedto be as'generic in their application to similar-parts as the art'will permit.

Referring to the accompanyingdrawings and more particularly to Fig; 1 a bombII is provided With a steel'casingI2; The interior of the bomb is divided into three compartments I3; I4 and I5 by means of two transverse bulkheadsy I 6 and- II';

In-the compartment I3'is the explosive charge I8 and a detonator` I9.

sulatingraterialand is fprovided with a notch 30" In the con'ipartment` I5 is a Vcompressed gas, which may be either in the' liquid or gaseous form. The compartment I is Connected in the:

and a-contact segment 34, which at suitable timesv engages contacts 35 and 36. Engaging the pin 3-3` is an arm` 3l of conducting material which is pvotedat 38. A spring 39 tends to move this arm Connected to the chamber 22is a cylinder 4lv inwhich is-mounted a 'piston' 48 provided with a piston1rod49 to the-lower end of which is attacheda contact bar 5I which co-operates with two-contacts 52 and 53. y A- compression spring 54 is `locatedin the cylinder 4l. v

Mounted'in the-chamber Ill is acontact mechanism 51. The contact mechanism' 5l comprises a hemispherical bow1 63` (Figs. l and 2) provided with a top 64, the bowland top being made of nonconducting material. The bowl is secured-to a ring vwhich is pivotally mounted in a gimbal ring 6,5: whichfin turn1 is pivotally mounted in bracketsG'I.

Secured tothe ring 65 is a pivot 68, rotatably mounted inthe gimbal ring 6E, to the end of which issecured a friction disc 69. Mounted on a bracket 'II, which is Vsecured to the gimbal ringv 66', is-a'solenoid I2 provided with a core 13. Se-

cured to the core 'I3 is a collar 'I4 between which andthe solenoid- 'I2 is mounted a compression spring-15. MountedY on the gimbal ring 66 is a spring 16, which is held out of engagement with the friction disc 69 by means of the core T3. weight 'I0 mounted on-the-gimbal ring 66 counterbalancesthe weight ofthe solenoid l2, etc.

Secured. to thegimbal ring 65 is a pivot I'I where a similar construction is provided includingaspring 'I8 which is controlled by a solenoid 19j The winding of the solenoid l2 is connected byfa flexible Vconductor 8| to one side of a battery 83 and* by a flexible conductor 82 to the contact-4I. The other side ofthe battery 83 Ais connected by a conductor Bto the arm 3l. The winding 'ofthe solenoid 'I9 is connected by branch conductors 84 and 85 tothe conductors 8| and S2- respectively.

Mounted in the top 64 ofthexbowl 63`are four contacts 85""Which are connected together and by a iiexibleconductor B'Ito the arm 3l. The bowl 53 is lled with mercury`88 or other conducting liquid, to a level just below the contacts 86. i Projectinginto the mercuryv 88 is anelectrode 89 which is connected by a eXible conductor 9I` y u The contact 42 is. connected by aco'nductor'93 to one side of abattery 94 the other side of which is connected by a conductor 95 to the detonator I9. The contacts 35 and 52 are connected by branch conductors 96 and 91 to the conductor 93.

In the operation of this invention when the bomb II is released from the airplane the time mechanism 3I is started by any suitable means not shown. When the bomb strikes the target it will not explode, as the circuit to the detonator I9 is open. After the bomb has come to rest the contact device 51 will assume a horizontal position, as it is suspended in the gimbal ring 66.

After a predetermined interval of time has elapsed, Vfor example four hours, the disc 32 together with the pin 33 will have rotated sufficiently in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow, to release the arm 31, which will be moved to the left under the action of the spring 39, thus engaging the contacts 4I and 42. This will close a circuit from the Vbattery 83 thru the solenoids 12 and 19, the cores of which will be retracted, thus releasing the springs 16 and 18 which will clamp the contact device 51 in whatever horizontal position it has assumed with respect to the bomb II. In this position the contacts 86 will be just clear of the surface of the mercury 88.

If any attempt is made to tamper with the bomb and it is moved ever so slightly from they position in which it came to rest the mercury 88 will engage one of the contacts 86 thus completing a circuit from the battery 94, conductor 93, contact 42, arm 31, conductors 80 and 81, contacts 86, mercury 98, electrode 89, conductors 9| and 92, detonator I9 and conductor 95 back to battery 94. This will cause the detonator I9 to explode which in turn will cause the detonation of the explosive charge I8.

If the bomb is not thus exploded the disc 32 will continue to rotate until the notch 39 releases the rod 43 which will be moved to the left under the action of the spring 49 thus releasing the valve stem 26 which will be moved downward under the action of the spring 28. 'This will open the valve thus allowing the gas from the compartment I5 to pass to the chamber 22 from which it will pass thru pipes 23 and orices 24 to the exterior.

If all the orifices 24 are plugged up or otherwise closed so that the gas cannot escape a pressure will be built up in chamber 22 which will cause the piston 43 to move downward until the contact bar 5I engages the contacts 52 and 53. This will cause a circuit to be closed from the battery 94, conductors 93 and 91, contact 52, bar 5I, contact 53, conductors 9! and 92, detonator I9 and conductor 95 back to battery 94. This will cause the detonator I9 to explode which in turn will cause the detonation of the explosive charge I8.

By varying'the positions of the notches 3U in various bombs of a salvo it is possible to cause one bomb after another to give oil gas, so that a continuous emission of gas may be obtained over a long period of time from one salvo of bombs. If the emission of the gas is interfered with the bomb will be exploded.

If the bomb is not otherwise exploded after a predetermined period, which for example may be several days, the disc 32 will have rotated suiciently so that the segment 34 will engage the contacts 35 and 36. This will close a circuit from the battery,94, conductors 93 and 99, contact 35, segment 34, contact 36, conductors 9| and 92, detonator .I9 and conductor 95 back to the battery 94. This will cause thedetonator I9 to ex-l plode which in turn will cause the detonation of the explosive charge I8.

It is thus seen that a system is provided in which a salvo of bombs may be planted on a target and each bomb in succession will give off gas, thus causing the gas attack to be extended over a long period of time. If the emission of gas is prevented or if the bombs are tampered with they will explode. If not otherwise exploded they will be automatically exploded at the end of a predetermined period.

Although only a few of` the various forms in which this invention may be embodied have been shown herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specic construction but may be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A gas bomb comprising a source of gas and` an explosive charge, a detonator for said charge including a detonating circuit to actuate said detonator when energized, an open passage connected to said source for releasing said gas, a normally open valve controlling the flow of gas through said passage, a latch member latching said valve in closed position, timed means' to release said latch member for opening said valve to release said gas, and a pressure .switch actuated in response to excessive gas pressure in said passage, said switch being connected to close said detonating circuit so as to explode said charge when discharge of said gas is prevented to an.

extent to build up pressure in said passage.

2. A gas bomb comprising a source of gas and an explosive charge, a detonator for said charge including a detonating circuit to actuate said detonator when energized, a passage for releasing said gas, a normally open valve controlling the flow of gas through said passage, a latch member latching said valve in closed position, timed means. to release said latch member for opening saidl valve to release said gas, a pressure switch actuated in response to excessive gas pressure in said passage, said switch being connected to close said detonating circuit so as to explode said charge when discharge of said gas is prevented to an extent to build up pressure in said passage, and timed means to close said detonating circuit at the end of a predetermined time for destroying said bomb.

3. A gas bomb comprising a source of gas and an explosive charge, a detonator for said charge including a detonating circuit to actuate said detonator when energized, a passage for releasing said gas, a normally open valve controlling the flow of gas through said passage, a latch member latching said valve in closed position, timed means to release said latch member for opening said valve to release said gas, a pressure switch actuated in response to excessive gas pressure in said passage, said switch being connected to close said detonating circuit so as to explode said charge when discharge of said gas is prevented to an extent to build up pressure in said passage, a gravity controlled switch mounted to be closed in response to tilting movement of said bomb, and timed means connecting said last switch in said detonating circuit for closing the same when said bomb is disturbed.

4. A gas bomb comprising a source of gas and an explosive charge, a detonator for said charge including a. detonating circuit to actuate said detonator when energized, a passage for releasing said gas. a normally open valve controlling the flow of gas through said passage, a latch member latching said valve in closed position, timed means to release said latch member for opening said valve to release lsaid gas, a pressure switch actuated in response to excessive gas pressure in said passage, said switch `being connected to` close said detonating circuit so as to explode said charge when discharge ci said gas is prevented to an extent to build up. pressure in said passage,` timed means to close said detonating circuit at the end or" a predetermined time for destroying said bomb, a liquid'contact gravity controlled switch, means mounting said gravity switch for universal movement to assume a horizontal position with its contacts open when the bomb comes to rest, and timed means locking said gravity switch in its position ci rest so that tilting movement of said bomb thereafter will close its con-` ing circuit so as to explode said charge when -0 discharge of saidgas is prevented by restriction of said discharge opening to an extent to build up excessive pressure in said passage.

6. A gas bomb comprising a source of gas and an explosive charge, a detonator forsaid charge including a detonating circuit to actuate said l detonator when energized, a passage connected to said source, said passage having a discharge operiing to the surrounding atmosphere for discharging said gas, a pressure switch actuated in response` to excessive gas pressure in said passage, said switch being connected to close said detonating circuit so as to explode said charge when discharge of said gas is prevented by restriction of said discharge opening to an extent to build up excessive pressure in said passage, and timed `means to close saiddetonating circuit at the end of a predetermined time for destroying said bomb regardless of the operation of said pressure switch.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 699,027 Sigurdsson et al Apr. 29, 1902 812,046 Kershaw Feb. 6, 1906 950,032 Stiriz Feb. 22, 1910 1,623,475 Hammond Apr. 5, 1927 2,110,552 Hayden Mar. 8, 1938 2,368,310 Lecky et a1 Jan. 30, 1945 2,411,788 Hammond, Jr Nov. 26, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS `Number Country Date 37,697 Germany NOV. 20, 1886 130,394 Great Britain Aug, 7, 1919 484,730 Great Britain May 10, 1938 522,990 Great Britain July 2, 1940 836,663 France Oct. 17, 1938 

